Chap. X. FRANKLIN AND RICHARDSON'S JOURNEY. 357 



task on others of which he did not take a share 

 himself, says that Dr. Richardson and he deter- 

 mined on making a pedestrian excursion to the 

 Copper Mine River, leaving Mr. Wentzel to superin- 

 tend the buildings. Accordingly they set out on the 

 9th of September, and having suffered much from 

 snow and cold, reached the Copper Mine River on 

 the 13th, and were glad to get back to Fort Enter- 

 prise, having traversed on foot about eighty miles. 

 On the same day Back and Hood returned from 

 their inspection. 



" I was much pleased (says Franklin) with the able 

 manner in which these officers executed the service they had 

 been despatched upon, and was gratified to learn from them 

 that their companions had conducted themselves extremely 

 well, and borne the fatigues of the journey most cheerfully. 

 They scarcely had ever more than sufficient fuel to boil the 

 kettle ; and were generally obliged to lie down in their 

 wet clothes, and consequently suffered much from cold." — 

 p. 237. 



Soon, however, after the parties had returned to 

 the Fort, it was stated by the wintering party at 

 Fort Enterprise, that they had been apprized that 

 the provisions they had, and were likely to obtain, 

 would not suffice for their journey to the sea, and 

 along the coast; and that the ammunition and 

 clothing had not come up from the southward : 

 Mr. Back therefore, with that zeal and activity by 

 which he had particularly distinguished himself, 

 volunteered to set out, on the 18th October, with 



